Wrthi'n llwytho
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RESOLVED: That the minutes of 4 December 2025 (including the amendment) and the minutes of 14 January 2026 be approved as a correct record.
RESOLVED: (a) That the Forward Work Programme be approved, as amended; (b) That the Facilitator, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee, be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises; (c) That the progress made in completing the outstanding actions be noted; and d) That the Committee requires Gwella to provide the risk analysis and financial information requested at the Committee meeting held on 23 October 2025, prior to the budget setting meeting next month; and (e) That the Committee invite the Bishop of Wrexham to the special Committee meeting scheduled for 13 February 2026.
RESOLVED: (a) That the Committee reviewed and commented on the Education and Youth portfolio’s options to reduce budgets; (b) That the Committee reviewed and commented on the proposals for the delegated schools’ budget; and (c) That the Committee recommends that, any benefit of the final teacher pay award being agreed at less than the Council’s current assumed 3% budget allocation be made available to fund and support the growing number of schools in a deficit position.
RESOLVED: (a) That the Committee acknowledges the implications of the pupil trend data contained within the report and the risks it presents to the delivery of future education services; and (b) That the comments of the Committee on how the pupil trend data should be strategically managed by the Council to inform future planning for the effective and efficient management of school places be noted.
RESOLVED: (a) That the Committee notes the contents of the report and progress made against the actions identified by Internal Audit for Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks in schools; and (b) That in line with best practice, all school governors of primary, secondary and special schools be asked to have enhanced DBS checks.
As school governors, Councillors McKeown and Shallcross each declared a personal and prejudicial interest on Agenda Item 9 (Confidential Briefing Note on Secondary Schools in Statutory Categories). Both would remain in the room for the initial part of the report and withdraw from the meeting prior to discussion on their school. On the same item, Councillor Lister declared a personal interest as a former employee of one of the schools mentioned in the report. Councillor Parkhurst also declared a personal interest on this item. On Item 6, Council Fund Budget 2026/27, Councillors Mackie and Preece declared a personal interest as school governors.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: That the minutes of 4 December 2025 (including the amendment) and the minutes of 14 January 2026 be approved as a correct record.
On the minutes of 4 December 2025, Councillor Fran Lister advised that her declaration of interest related to agenda item 6 and not 5. RESOLVED: That the minutes of 4 December 2025 (including the amendment) and the minutes of 14 January 2026 be approved as a correct record.
None.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: (a) That the Forward Work Programme be approved, as amended; (b) That the Facilitator, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee, be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises; (c) That the progress made in completing the outstanding actions be noted; and d) That the Committee requires Gwella to provide the risk analysis and financial information requested at the Committee meeting held on 23 October 2025, prior to the budget setting meeting next month; and (e) That the Committee invite the Bishop of Wrexham to the special Committee meeting scheduled for 13 February 2026.
The Overview & Scrutiny Facilitator presented a report (agenda item 5) to consider the Committee’s current Forward Work Programme and progress with actions. During discussion, the Facilitator agreed to endeavour to arrange an additional meeting in May to accommodate some of the items listed. She would also liaise with officers to follow up a request for regular updates from Interim Executive Boards and seek a response on whether the Holiday Hunger report could be brought to an earlier meeting. On Action Tracking, the Chief Officer advised that information previously requested on Direct Award Contracts would be provided in due course. In addition to the recommendations in the report, Councillor Parkhurst proposed that outstanding information be sought from Gwella prior to the budget-setting meeting and that the Bishop of Wrexham be invited to the special meeting on 13 February. He was seconded by Councillor Preece. On being put to the vote, this was carried. RESOLVED: (a) That the Forward Work Programme be approved, as amended; (b) That the Facilitator, in consultation with the Chair of the Committee, be authorised to vary the Forward Work Programme between meetings, as the need arises; (c) That the progress made in completing the outstanding actions be noted; and d) That the Committee requires Gwella to provide the risk analysis and financial information requested at the Committee meeting held on 23 October 2025, prior to the budget setting meeting next month; and (e) That the Committee invite the Bishop of Wrexham to the special Committee meeting scheduled for 13 February 2026.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: (a) That the Committee reviewed and commented on the Education and Youth portfolio’s options to reduce budgets; (b) That the Committee reviewed and commented on the proposals for the delegated schools’ budget; and (c) That the Committee recommends that, any benefit of the final teacher pay award being agreed at less than the Council’s current assumed 3% budget allocation be made available to fund and support the growing number of schools in a deficit position.
The Corporate Finance Manager and Strategic Finance Manager presented the report (agenda item 6) to consider cost pressures, budget reduction options and associated risks for the Education and Youth portfolio and proposals for the delegated schools’ budget, in advance of final budget setting for 2026/27. The report identified further adjustments to that previously reported on the Council’s challenging budget position. During discussion, the Chief Officer (Education and Youth) agreed to a request to provide information on school deficits projected by the end of the financial year. Members asked that a copy of the Cabinet report on the recommendations of the Holiday Hunger Working Group be circulated to the Committee and that a further meeting of that group be sought. Councillor Johnson suggested that the minutes and actions from future meetings of that group be shared with the Committee. Councillor Crease made reference to the 2.2% assumed uplift for the teacher pay award from Welsh Government in the recent final settlement. He proposed that the Committee recommend that any benefit of the final teacher pay award being agreed at less than the Council’s current assumed 3% budget allocation be made available to fund and support the growing number of schools in a deficit position. He was seconded by Councillor Mackie. An amendment that the Committee does not support any reduction to Education portfolio budgets was proposed by Councillor Preece and seconded by Councillor Ibbotson. Councillor Crease stated his reasons for not accepting the amendment. On being put to the vote, the amendment was lost. The motion proposed by Councillor Crease was put to the vote and carried. Councillor Preece asked that her vote against be recorded. RESOLVED: (a) That the Committee reviewed and commented on the Education and Youth portfolio’s options to reduce budgets; (b) That the Committee reviewed and commented on the proposals for the delegated schools’ budget; and (c) That the Committee recommends that, any benefit of the final teacher pay award being agreed at less than the Council’s current assumed 3% budget allocation be made available to fund and support the growing number of schools in a deficit position.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: (a) That the Committee acknowledges the implications of the pupil trend data contained within the report and the risks it presents to the delivery of future education services; and (b) That the comments of the Committee on how the pupil trend data should be strategically managed by the Council to inform future planning for the effective and efficient management of school places be noted.
The Senior Manager (School Planning & Provision) presented a report (agenda item 7) on the impact of demography and housing developments on the supply and demand for mainstream school places. As requested, the Chief Officer (Education and Youth) agreed that an annual update on this topic would be added to the Committee’s Forward Work Programme. On that basis, the recommendations in the report were supported. RESOLVED: (a) That the Committee acknowledges the implications of the pupil trend data contained within the report and the risks it presents to the delivery of future education services; and (b) That the comments of the Committee on how the pupil trend data should be strategically managed by the Council to inform future planning for the effective and efficient management of school places be noted.
Y penderfyniad fel y'i cofnodwyd
RESOLVED: (a) That the Committee notes the contents of the report and progress made against the actions identified by Internal Audit for Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks in schools; and (b) That in line with best practice, all school governors of primary, secondary and special schools be asked to have enhanced DBS checks.
The Chief Officer (Education and Youth) and Learning Advisor (Health, Wellbeing & Safeguarding) presented the report (agenda item 8) to update the Committee on progress with actions identified during an internal audit of Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks in schools in 2024/25. An additional recommendation was proposed and seconded by Councillors Preece and Parkhurst that all school governors at primary, secondary and special schools be asked to have an enhanced DBS check. Officers clarified that this was not currently a legal requirement. On being put to the vote, this was carried. RESOLVED: (a) That the Committee notes the contents of the report and progress made against the actions identified by Internal Audit for Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) checks in schools; and (b) That in line with best practice, all school governors of primary, secondary and special schools be asked to have enhanced DBS checks.
Councillor David Healey’s proposal to exclude the press and public was seconded by Councillor Hodge. Councillor Ibbotson proposed that Members vote against moving into closed session immediately to enable part of the debate to be held in open session until such time as appropriate. He was seconded by Councillor Preece. This was not supported by the mover and seconder of the original motion. Councillor Ibbotson’s request for a recorded vote was supported by the requisite number of Members. The following voted in favour of moving into closed session immediately: Councillors: Teresa Carberry, Bill Crease, David Healey, Ian Hodge, Dave Mackie and Gina Maddison. Those voting against: Lisa Allen and Councillors Alasdair Ibbotson, Fran Lister, Andrew Parkhurst and Carolyn Preece. Abstentions: Councillors: Ryan McKeown and Jason Shallcross. RESOLVED: That the press and public be excluded from the meeting as the following item was considered to be exempt by virtue of paragraph 17 of Part 4 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).
None.
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